Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians who are struck by automobiles are at a greater chance of suffering catastrophic injuries. Broken bones or fractures, organ damage, traumatic injuries or spinal cord trauma, and disfigurement are all common injuries.
A NYC pedestrian accident lawyer will assist victims in obtaining compensation to cover future and present rehabilitation costs, medical costs, lost wages due to absence from work, and other damages.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
Even with sidewalks and crosswalks walking along a road puts you at risk of being struck by a car. If you are walking across the street or jogging back to your car after shopping pedestrians may suffer serious injuries or even death if they're struck by a motor vehicle. If you've been hit by a vehicle while walking, it is crucial to act fast to safeguard your legal and financial rights. A seasoned New York pedestrian accident lawyer can assist you through the complex process of filing an injury claim.
It is also important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a pedestrian accident. This should be done prior to discussing the incident with any insurance companies. Your adrenaline can mask symptoms or pain, therefore it is essential to get an examination and diagnosis from a physician. Inability to seek treatment may hinder your ability to claim compensation for your injuries or losses.
If you seek medical attention, you should contact the police to file a formal report of the incident. Make sure to obtain the name of the officer, badge number, as well as the case number assigned to your particular case. It will be simpler to obtain an exact copy of your police report once it is completed. It's also helpful to write down any additional statements you give to the police officer so that you have a clear, complete image of what transpired.
Take photos of the scene of the accident and your injuries if you have access to a mobile phone. This can be important evidence to support your claim. In addition you should try to find the names and contact information of any witnesses present at the time of the collision. This can also be helpful evidence to support your case, as it is difficult to establish liability without the testimony of other parties involved in the collision.
An attorney can evaluate your claim and determine which kinds of damages you're entitled to. These can include future and present medical expenses, rehabilitation costs as well as lost wages due missed work, property damages, emotional distress or pain and suffering and emotional distress. A lawyer for pedestrian accidents will maximize your compensation by making sure that all your losses are documented and recorded.
Establishing Liability
Your lawyer can assist you in determining who is accountable for your injuries, and help you create a strong case against the party or parties accountable. They will gather evidence like eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage and police reports to support your claim. They also work with accident reconstruction experts who can recreate the scene to determine factors like speed, impact angles and other factors.
While the party responsible for an accident involving pedestrians is usually the driver who struck you, other parties could also be held accountable for your injuries. If it is proven that poor lighting or obstructed vision caused the accident, then you can also sue the government agency responsible for road conditions. In accordance with the laws of your state you could be entitled to compensation under the insurance policy of the driver's no-fault.
Your lawyer can also go over any evidence from a hit and run accident and try to locate the driver that fled the scene. This is particularly crucial if you've been injured by an intoxicated driver.
It's also worth noting that pedestrians may be held accountable in certain states for not taking care for their own safety. In New York for example, pedestrians are required to obey traffic signs and signals and remain alert in areas where there is lots of traffic. If a judge determines that you were at fault for your accident, your damages could be reduced in proportion to the extent of your fault.
Your NYC pedestrian accident attorney can help you obtain compensation to cover any medical costs you might have incurred including future ones, lost wages due to missed workdays, and the pain and suffering. They can also assist you in obtaining compensation if you have suffered property damage or other damage. They will work with industry experts to accurately estimate your losses to ensure that they reflect your accident's full impact on your life. They can also negotiate with insurers to ensure that you are compensated fairly, and that you do not fall prey to fraudulent tactics. They can even manage interactions with insurance companies to ensure that you aren't forced to settle for less than you deserve.
Making a Claim
Pedestrian accidents can be complicated and difficult to navigate without the help of an experienced attorney. Whether you should make an insurance claim or sue to recover damages for your losses and injuries is not always clear, and making the wrong choice can have devastating financial consequences. If you're injured by a car for instance, it may seem like the best option to negotiate with your insurance company, however their plans may not cover all of your damages.
Your first step should be to seek immediate medical attention to treat your injuries. It is essential to record the severity of your injury as well as the results, which could include physical pain, emotional stress and loss of quality of life. It is essential to keep track of all expenses incurred due to the accident. This includes medical expenses, lost income from working hours missed, and property damage.
The next step is to submit an insurance claim to the owner or driver's insurer. In states with no-fault laws the personal injury protection insurance of the driver, which is an integral part of most car insurance policies will take care of pedestrians' injuries regardless of who is at fault for an accident. In certain instances the pedestrian could be covered by their own auto insurance according to the kind of insurance they have.
Before submitting any insurance claim, it's essential to speak with an New York pedestrian injury lawyer. Insurance companies are adept in settling claims that are less than their value. They also know how they can find loopholes in law that prevent you from recouping your full losses.
An experienced lawyer for pedestrian accidents from Shaevitz & Shaevitz can help you determine which avenue to pursue for the recovery of your losses. We can review any settlement offer from the insurance company and make sure that it's sufficient to cover your damages, including medical bills and lost wages due to missed workdays, pain and suffering, emotional distress and costs of rehabilitation. In some cases our firm can help you pursue compensation from other parties that could be accountable for your losses. For example the city might be responsible for faulty sidewalks and crosswalks or a company could be accountable for drivers who are on duty.
Recovering Compensation
A car accident can be life-altering. It could result in significant medical bills and a loss of income due to missed work. It can also cause you to suffer from ongoing pain and emotional distress. If you're in this situation you require an attorney who can assist you in obtaining the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. The best option is an attorney with prior experience with pedestrian accident claims. They know how to calculate your full damages and can deal effectively with insurance companies.
The right of way for pedestrians is guaranteed in many traffic situations and a seasoned NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can collect evidence to prove this in court. They will use video footage along with police reports and witness testimony to create an evidence-based case for you. This will give you the best chance to recover the amount you deserve to pay for medical expenses or lost wages, as well as other damages resulting from the crash.
Employing a lawyer is the only way you can receive the money you need to cover your losses after being hit by a car as a pedestrian. Your lawyer will also safeguard you from being a victim by the insurance company of the driver who was at fault and negotiate a fair settlement for you.
Based on the nature of your injuries, you might be eligible for compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the cost of your medical expenses and your lost income, while non-economic damages are based on your suffering and pain.
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that any claim for injury must be submitted to the insurance company for cars of the driver who is at fault. If your injuries meet the serious threshold for injury, you can bring a lawsuit directly against the driver for negligence.
South Bend accident lawsuits should speak to a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as you can after your collision, because the statute of limitations is very short. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney will be able to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim and ensure that you have all the necessary evidence in place before the deadline expires.